One of the concepts which will be introduced for the F1 2026 season is active aerodynamics, where the rear and front wings will assume different configurations. In a straight line, the flaps of both the rear and front wings will drop down a zero level of resistance. In the corners, the flaps will pop back up to ensure the cars have the maximum amount of downforce to make it through the corners at speed.

However, after teams’ ran simulations in wet weather conditions several negative factors came to light. The simulations showed that in tracks like Albert Park, the F1 2026 season opener, where the fast back- straight has a left-handed kink, cars would understeer into the wall with the straightline mode on. With the cornering speed mode activated, the cars were able to make the kink but should the teams adopt the maximum downforce set up throughout the entirety of a wet weather race, the skids then become vulnerable to excessive wear.

For this the FIA has come up with a solution. The F1 teams will be allowed to run a partial active aerodynamic mode where the rear wing’s flaps will remain up, and the front wing’s will remain down. That way teams won’t be forced to run races with higher downforce than previously expected should inclement weather strike.

Ahead of each race, Race Control will establish when the different aerodynamic positionings can be fully or partially activated.

The FIA is refining terminology for F1’s 2026 rules to make concepts clearer for fans, teams, and broadcasters. Terms like “X mode/Y mode” and “straightline/cornering mode” for active aerodynamics are set to be replaced with simpler language, likely just “active aero.” Read the rest of the cnages here.

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